Tom Birdseye - A Kids Guide to Building Forts

A KIDS GUIDE
TO
BUILDING FORTS

About the Author

Tom Birdseye is a writer and former teacher who currently lives with his family in Corvallis, Oregon. He is the author of ten childrens books and lectures in schools across the United States on how to stimulate early interest in reading and writing.

About the Illustrator

Bill Klein is a boy-turned-architect and visual artist living with his family in Cedar City, Utah, where he designs custom homes and works in watercolors and mixed media sculptures.

Published by Roberts Rinehart Publishers
A member of the
Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group
4720 Boston Way
Lanham, MD 20706

Distributed by
National Book Network
1-800-462-6420

1993 Tom Birdseye
Illustrations 1993 Bill Klein
All rights reserved.

Manufactured in the United States of America
Printed on acid-free, archival quality paper

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Birdseye, Tom.
A kids guide to building forts/by Tom Birdseye : illustrations
by Bill Klein.

p. cm.
Summary: Presents a brief history of forts, step-by-step
instructions for building indoor and outdoor forts, hints on where
to obtain materials, and safety tips.
ISBN 978-0-943173-69-6
1. Playhouses, ChildrensDesign and constructionJuvenile
literature. [1. Fortification. 2. Building 3. Handicraft.]
I. Klein, Bill, 1945- ill. II. Title
TH4967.B56 1993
690.89dc20 98-45008

PEOPLE HAVE BUILT FORTS FOR CENTURIES. HISTORICALLY, THEY WERE USED TO PROTECT COMMUNITIES OR EVEN WHOLE KINGDOMS FROM INVADING ARMIES, AND WERE THE SITE OF MANY TERRIBLE. SIEGES AND HEROIC LAST STANDS.

IN ENGLAND, THE FORT WAS THE LORDS OR KINGS CASTLE. BUILT OF STONE, WITH HGHH TURRETS, GREAT HALLS, AND DEEP MOATS CROSSED ONLY BY A DRAWBRIDGE, IT WAS THE MOST IMPORTANT BU1LDING IN ANY TCWM. KING ARTHUR AND HIS LEGENDARY KNIGHTS OF THE ROUND TABLE LIVED IN SUCH A FORT.

IN JAPAN, FORTS WERE BUILT OF HUGE. WOODEN TIMBERS SET ON STONE FOUNDATIONS. THEY HAD TILE ROOFS, TRAP DOORS TO DROP STONES ON THE ENEMY, AND SQUEAKY NIGHTINGALE FLOORS THAT ALERTED THE GUARDS IF A NINJA ASSASSIN SNEAKED IN DURING THE NIGHT.

JAPANESE FEUDAL LORDS AND THEIR LOYAL SAMURAI WARRIORS, THE FAMOUS SWORDSMEN OF JAPAN, LIVED IN THESE HUGE, MULTISTORIED FORTS, DEFENDING THEM TO DEATH IF NEED BE.

AND, IN THE UNITED STATES AND CANADA, FORTS WERE MADE OF LOGS STOOD ON END. THERE WERE HIGH BLOCK HOUSES ON THE CORNERS FROM WHICH TO FIGHT. LIVING QUARTERS INSIDE THE WALLS HOUSED THE CAVALRY SOLDIERS, WHOSE JOB IT WAS TO PROTECT WAGON TRAINS AND PIONEERS FROM ATTACK.

AS YOU CAN SEE, FORTS WERE NOT ALL ALIKE IN DIFFERENT PARTS OF THE WORLD AND AT VARIOUS TIMES IN HISTORY. BUT THEIR MAIN PURPOSE WAS ALWAYS THE SAME: THE SERIOUS BUSINESS OF WAR, WEAPONS, AND FIGHTING FOR SURVIVAL.

THESE DAYS A FORT CAN ALSO BE SOMETHING ELSE, SOMETHING VERY SPECIALA HANDMADE, PRIVATE, OFTEN SECRET PLACE FOR KIDS.

IT IS...
A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN SIT, TALK, PRETEND, BE ALONE, MAKE DECISIONS, AND MUCH, MUCH MORE. IT IS A PLACE BUILT BY USING EASY-TO-FIND MATERIALS, A FEW TOOLS, AND SOME IMAGINATION.

IT IS NOT MADE BY DAD OR MOM WITH WOOD FROM THE LUMBER COMPANY. IT IS NOT ORDERED OUT OF A CATALOG AND DELIVERED BY TWO MEN IN A BIG TRUCK. IT IS YOURS, CREATED BY YOU.

AS A CLUBHOUSE, GATHERING SPOT FOR FRIENDS, PLAY AREA, PLACE TO BE ALONE, CAMP OUT SHELTER, OR ANY OTHER OF ITS 1,000 USES, A FORT IS A KIDS PARADISE. OUR WISH FOR YOU IS MANY HOURS OF CREATIVE FUN.

AS WITH MOST THINGS THAT ARE FUN, FORT BUILDING HAS ITS HAZARDS, TOO. THE MATERIALS YOU GATHER MAY HOLD NASTY SURPRISESSPLINTERS, SHARP EDGES, RUSTY NAILS, AND WEAK BRANCHES THAT SUDDENLY SNAP!

THE TOOLS YOU USE (UTILITY KNIVES, HAMMERS, SCISSORS, WEED CUTTERS, ETC.) CAN WORK IN UNPLANNED OW! WAYS, ALSO.

SO PLAN AHEAD, GET ADVICE OR HELP FROM AN ADULT WHEN NEEDED, AND THINK BEFORE YOU BEGIN. SAFETY IS THE KEY TO A GOOD TIME. ILL BE SHOWING UP OCCASSIONALLY TO REMIND YOU TO HAVE FUNA TON OF FUNBUT PLEASE BE CAREFUL!

THE BACKYARD...

THE VACANT LOT...

AND BEYOND...

OUTSIDE IS USUALLY THE FIRST CHOICE FOR BUILDING A FORT. WHEREVER YOU LIVE THERE ARE LOTS OF MATERIALS TO WORK WITH. CAREFUL SCROUNGING CAN UNCOVER OLD DOORS, WINDOWS, SCRAP PLYWOOD, BOARDS, PLASTIC, OLD CRATES, BOXES, CANS, 2 4S, LEAVES, CLIPPINGS, DEAD BRANCHES FROM TREES, AND A MILLION OTHER USEFUL BUILDING SUPPLIES.

YOU THEN NEED TO ADD IS SOME IMAGINATION AND A GOOD PLAN

SO... READ ON

TOOLS YOU MAY NEED: HAMMER, NAILS, SAW.

1. FIND SOMETHING TO LEAN YOUR FORT WALL AGAINST. (THATS WHY THEY CALL IT A LEAN-TO.)
THIS COULD BE A LARGE LOG IN THE WOODS, A SWING SET, THE SIDES OF A BUILDING, OR TWO TREES WITH A POLE TIED BETWEEN THEM PARALLEL TO THE GROUND.

2. LEAN STRONG DEAD LIMBS, DRIFTWOOD FROM THE BEACH, SCRAP LUMBER, OR ANYTHING HANDY AGAINST YOUR SUPPORT AT ABOUT A 60 ANGLE. CUT THE MATERIAL TO PROPER LENGTH IF NECESSARY. DONT LEAVE MORE THAN SIX INCHES OF OPEN SPACE BETWEEN THESE PIECES.

3. STARTING AT THE BOTTOM, AND NAILING WHERE NEEDED, COVER THIS FRAME WITH LEAVES TREE TRIMMINGS, HAY, JUNK TIN FROM AN OLD ROOF, PLYWOOD, AN OLD WINDOW FOR A SKY-LIGHT, OR EVEN SOD. (SOD IS A CLUMP OF GRASS WITH THE ROOTS AND SOME DIRT STILL ATTACHED.)